Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-11-04
Comm nicated.l
Lnrend of the Crooked Sword.


Among the many curious things brought
to America by families from Europe was
curved Moorish sword, or cimiter, belong
ing formerly TO Colonel Robert Forsyth,
an officer under King James, who settled
in County Down, Ulster, iceland. in l0lS'
II had an inscription on one side OF the
blade which read, that, lac who possessed
it should be fortunate in love and war /;
on the other side, the inscription read,
that he who lost il should experience ca
lamitcS and the power of h' po~terify
should bc shaken.
The sword Ms worn first in Am RIGA To-
Ensign William Forsyth, of the Royal
Provincials, in the Indian wars IN the
vicinity of Chester. New Hampshire. in
1868, whose father. nalve Of County
Down, in Ireland, was descendant OF
Col. Robert, the original posse'sor.
Ensign William Forsyth was captured
bv the Indians about 1865, and carried to
Canada. and was ransomed by NJ. de Mont
marte. French officer, whose secretary
he became lie was with de Montmarte
for two or three years, and when the lat
ter returned to France, he gave William
his liberty and money with which to reach
his friends,
The sword, which had been lost in his
struggle with the Indians was discovered,
after his capture, and sent to his eldest
brother, DR.. Matthew Forsyth, then ply
stefan in the Royal Navy.
A son Of this DIR. Matthew, named Rob
ert. came to Fredericksburg, Va, about
l772, and among his effects was this
sword. which he wore as Captain, and az
forwards as Major, In Lees Light Horse
during the Revolution. In l77S Robert
Forsyth was Deputy QuarterM aster-Gen-
eral Of the Southern Army, and letter OF
that date, written by HIM from Fredericks-
burg, is in possession Of Miss Anna For
syth. Of Ivy, Al5emarle county, confirm
ing, or announcing the appointment oil
CO.. Ephraim Blaine an ancestor of Hon
James G. Blaine, to the position of Deputy
Onarter- Master-General Of the Northern
Army.
Robert Forsyth was appointed by Wash
ington lst l.. S. Marshal Of Georgia. The
sword passed from him to his son John
together with his badge Of the Society Of
the Cincinnati. John Forsyth was Gov
ernor of and Senator from Georgia and
Secretary Of the United States from 1873
to 1871.
And thus the fortune Of the possessori
of the sword increased until the burning
of Columbus, Ga. by the Federals in thu
/ late war when the sword was DESTROYED
with other effects Of the late Governor
FORSYTH. Since then. the fortune of tina
branch Of the family has changed.
An old fashioned musket which belong
ed TO Ensign William Forsyth is in posses
sion Of one Of his descendants, in Mancbes
tcr, y. H.
Owing to Ensign William Forsyth's con
neciion with VI. do Nominate, be wa
enabled 10 educate one Of his sons il
France. This son, Thomas Forsyth, Is
Viscount dc Fronsac, in the Forsyth gene
alory, was educated in Franco since HI
tenth year lie served CALAMITY, at tn
age Of Il, in the Marquis de NOMINATE
battalion of Navarro in the war of th
allies and French Princes in 1872 agains
the LIST French republic, and is described II
fmcrica Heraldicq, as being decorated witt
the Order Of Knighthood Of ST. LOUIS, a
the serge Of Thionville in 1872.